Committee recommends city expresses interest in second NHL team

Is there room in Toronto for a second NHL hockey club? Depends on who you ask on the city’s economic development committee, which voted on Thursday to request that Mayor Rob Ford write a letter to the NHL expressing interest in locating a second franchise within the city’s boundaries.

Almost immediately, the issue became one of loyalty for Councillor Michael Thompson, a “die hard, blue and blue” Maple Leafs fan. “I don’t see another team in the 416 that I’m ever going to support, no matter how the opportunity is,” Mr. Thompson told the city’s economic development committee, which he chairs.

For Councillor Josh Colle, the instigator of what many would regard as a very long shot — if only because there are rules against putting a new franchise in close proximity to one that already exists — it’s not a knock against the Leafs, rather a question of economic spin offs.

Just like the city would aggressively pursue a Fortune 500 company, he believes so should Toronto tell the NHL what it wants. Mr. Colle noted that Winnipeg’s recent dream come true of a returning NHL franchise came after 15 years of dedicated, and passionate lobbying by civic leaders.

“People have talked ad nauseam about a team coming to Southern Ontario. What I’m trying to do is say that if a team comes, I don’t want it to be in one of our neighbouring areas, I want it to be in this city, that I’m a councillor for, where we’d enjoy all those benefits,” said Mr. Colle, who represents Ward 15 (Eglinton-Lawrence).

He dismissed suggestions by Councillor Paula Fletcher that other cities would be offended by Toronto, already regarded by other Canadian cities as “too big for our britches,” if it pursued a second team, when places like Hamilton have been clamouring for years for a first.

“We are what we are,” replied Councillor Colle. “We’re a market that deserves a franchise, and can support one. And we can’t turn a blind eye to any opportunity which is increased tourism, new investment.”

Still, Councillor Thompson doesn’t think Toronto can handle the traffic congestion that comes with another NHL franchise. And he worried that leading the charge would give potential private investors, or the league, the wrong impression.

“If you’re going to ask for this to happen, somebody is going to say to us, you build us a stadium. I’m not prepared to take that chance,” he said. “I’m supportive obviously of expanding hockey in Southern Ontario, just not in the 416.”

In a statement, Maple Leaf Sport and Entertainment, noted that “this is a topic that resurrects itself every few years. If or when the National Hockey League comes to the Board of Governors with a recommendation on relocation or expansion of an NHL franchise in Toronto, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment will analyze the recommendation and provide its input at that time.”

The economic development committee voted in favour, with Councillor Thompson dissenting, of asking Mayor Rob Ford to write a letter to the NHL, expressing the city’s interest in a second team, if the opportunity ever arose. It has to be approved by city council.